Interesting Reading


Have you read an interesting article that you'd like to share with others? Post a link to it here along with a brief summary if you choose.



Libraries linked to achievement

This E-School News article is titled "School library research makes the case for more targeted support". The premise is that there is a correlation between the school media center and student achievement. The article relays some facts about school media centers based on a poll of 5,000 school librarians across the U.S. According the the poll, the average school library has approximately 15 computers, although they do not define "average". Other facts:
  • Average elementary school library staffed 5 hours less per week than a typical middle or high school.
  • High school librarians spend twice as much time, on average, collaborating and planning with teachers than elementary counterparts.
  • Research shows that reading scores tend to be higher in schools with full-time library media specialists who conduct training and outreach programs with teachers and students
Funding
Average school library spends $11 per student, per year. School libraries serving 300 students ($15), those serving 2,000 or more (less than $8).
Student Achievement
  • Students in Colorado with well-staffed libraries performed better on reading portions of standardized tests than their counterparts in schools without well-staffed libraries - 68.5 percent versus 57.5.
  • Florida - High schools whose library media programs were staffed at least 60 per week had scores 22 percent higher than those staffed fewer than 60.